Abstract

We have used a high-finesse cavity to measure the cw intensity dependence and dynamics of blue-light-induced infrared absorption (BLIIRA) in KNbO3 crystals for blue-light intensities between 7 x 10^-4 and 2 x 10^4 W/cm^2. We discuss the detrimental effects of BLIIRA on the efficiency of intracavity frequency doubling and the threshold for parametric oscillation.